Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed a law aimed at further improving the system of social services for people affected by harassment and violence.
The law, titled “On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Connection with Further Improvement of the System of Social Services for Persons Affected by Harassment and Violence,” was adopted by the Legislative Chamber on 10 June 2025 and approved by the Senate on 9 July 2026.
Reasons for adopting the law
The preamble states that Uzbekistan has in recent years undertaken extensive work to strengthen the institutional and legal framework for reliably protecting women’s rights, freedoms and legitimate interests from harassment and violence, as well as to establish a system of social services for affected women and their minor children.
In particular, the National Agency for Social Protection under the President of Uzbekistan has been designated as the authorized body responsible for working with women and children subjected to harassment and violence. Legislation regulating the provision of social services to them has also been adopted.
This has created a need to clarify the agency’s powers in legislation, as well as the types of social services and assistance provided to affected women and their minor children.
Exemption from state fees and document replacement
Under the law, women placed in territorial rehabilitation and adaptation centres for women under the National Agency for Social Protection will be exempt from state fees for issuing them and their minor children biometric passports (ID cards) to replace lost documents, as well as duplicate marriage and birth certificates. The relevant amendments have been made to the Civil Code and the Law on State Duty.
In addition, “Inson” social services centres have been granted the right to certify powers of attorney equivalent to notarized powers of attorney for women affected by harassment and violence who need to approach commercial banks to restore lost bank cards. The relevant provision has been added to both the Civil Code and the Law on Notariat.
Clarification of stay in special centres
The law amends Article 28 of the Law on the Protection of Women from Harassment and Violence, allowing a victim of harassment and violence to be placed in a special centre for up to six months.
The procedure for placing a victim in and removing them from a special centre will be determined by the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan.
Free legal assistance
The document also amends the Law on the Provision of Legal Assistance at the Expense of the State, expanding the categories of people eligible for such assistance and the types of cases covered.
In particular, victims of harassment and violence who apply to inquiry or pre-investigation authorities, investigative bodies or courts in connection with an act of harassment or violence covered by the Law on the Protection of Women from Harassment and Violence will be entitled to state-funded legal assistance.
The law provides that state-funded legal assistance will be available to women affected by harassment and violence and their minor children in cases involving the recovery of alimony, additional expenses for child maintenance, recognition of the loss of the right to use residential premises and eviction, establishment of paternity or deprivation of parental rights, determination of a child’s place of residence, determination of the procedure for communication with a child, divorce, division of property, recovery of property from unlawful possession, compensation for property damage, reinstatement at work and recovery of wages.
The law also provides that when women eligible for state-funded legal assistance file a court application in connection with an act of harassment or violence, the court, upon their request, will exempt them from the relevant fees. Before a decision is issued in the case, a certificate or information confirming that the case is being considered by the court may also be issued.
The law enters into force on the day of its official publication.
